From a Spendthrift to a Smarter Spender: The Simple Trick That Changed Everything

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to try something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised boredom is a strong trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.